Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of the bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya in experimental animal models

The bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya, has been used in Mexican folk medicine for treatment of antiinflammatory diseases. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity, on various animal models using carrageenan-induced oedema, cotton pellets-induced granuloma, induction of acute inflammation by histamine, croton oil induced ear oedema, activity of myeloperoxidase, adjuvantinduced arthritis, quantification of tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNFα), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in arthritic rat. Methanol extract (PAM) was also performed by assessing the activities of lipoxygenase and xanthine-oxidase. Our data indicate that PAM exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in all the trials of paw and ear oedema induced exhibiting also anti-arthritic activity. PAM could also markedly inhibit production of proinflammatory cytokines, especially TNFα, IL-1β, PGE2 and LTB4. These effects resulted in an attenuation of the inflammatory cytokines and ultimately suppression of the oedema. The extract also inhibited lipoxygenase and xanthine-oxidase. It was seen that PAM is effective on chronic inflammation and acute inflammation.